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Stoke-on-Trent's monkey dust epidemic

Across Stoke-on-Trent and the rest of the county, there were 208 deaths due to drug poisoning between 2015 and 2017. This was a jump of more than a quarter when compared to the 166 deaths for the previous three-year period.

Of these, 152 were due to drug misuse, where the substance involved was a controlled drug.

In the city alone, figures show there were 68 drug deaths between 2015 and 2017 and the rate is now more than double that seen in England and Wales as a whole.

Cocaine has been linked to a growing number of deaths nationally

Anthony Curzon, deputy coroner for North Staffordshire, has noticed drugs are featuring more prominently in inquest caseloads.

He said: “We are seeing more and more of them. It’s drink and drugs that’s seen an increase.

“Fifteen years ago, we had all these nightclubs and we were dealing with ecstasy deaths. Now you don’t see much ecstasy these days. At least then, people knew what they were taking.

“Now they often don’t know what they are taking and this is part of the harm.”

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He recently highlighted his concerns about psychoactive drugs following the death of a 54-year-old man in Hanley, who was still holding packets of monkey dust in his hands when his body was found. He had injected heroin, as well as consuming the synthetic substance.

Monkey dust

Across the country, there have also been increasing numbers of deaths linked to prescription drugs like zopiclone, pregabalin and gabapentin. The Government has identified these three drugs as part of an ongoing review into potentially addictive prescription medication.

In 2017, there were 1,164 deaths linked to heroin and morphine. But this marked a four per cent fall – the first decline since 2012.

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The majority of deaths from drug poisoning or misuse last year involved accidental poisoning, rather than mental and behavioural disorders, suicide or assault.

Ellie Osborn, health analysis statistician for the ONS, said: “Despite deaths from most opiates declining or remaining steady, deaths from fentanyl continued to rise, as did cocaine deaths, which increased for the sixth consecutive year.

Police are dealing with 10 cases linked to monkey dust each day

“Our new in-depth study of coroners’ records shows that there are common characteristics of drug-related deaths. These findings combined can be used to develop initiatives and policies that are targeted to support those at greatest risk of drug addiction.”

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According to the analysis of coroner’s reports that were sampled for the project, the attributes most commonly observed were white, single or divorced, living alone, unemployed, male, prior history of drug use and mental health issues.

This suggests a vulnerable, at-risk population engaging in unsafe drug-taking practices, such as taking drugs alone, and consuming multiple different types of drug alongside alcohol.